A man in Willits in jail after an altercation with deputies. The California Highway Patrol reports getting a call to a home in Willits and sent the info to deputies who found Kevin Pike had destroyed items at the home. The person who called invited deputies inside where they were confronted by Pike who they knew from previous incidents. They say he was verbally abusive to them and started to physically attack them, they fell to the ground after he spit on them. Two deputies had visible injuries but didn’t need medical treatment. Pike’s charged with assault causing injury (243(D) PC), threatening, or using violence against a Peace Officer (69 PC), and resist or delaying a Peace Officer in the performance of their duties (148(A) PC). He’s held on $15,000.00 bail.
A young woman and 17 year old boy have been arrested on drug charges in Willits. 19 year old Isabelle Burton and the 17 year old reportedly got into a fight with others at a home. The 17 year old was on probation so he was searched. Deputies found blue pills, a digital scale with white residue on it, a large number of small zip lock bags and cash. They searched his bedroom and found marijuana honey oil, used for edibles, and they found edibles packaged in various forms for sale, plus magic mushrooms, more marijuana, cocaine, LSD, a bunch of prescription pills, more honey oil, two zip lock bags of “DMT” and more cash. The two were arrested on various charges including possession for sale of a controlled substance and possession for sale of marijuana. The minor was taken to juvenile hall and Burton was released after agreeing by signature to appear in court due to an outbreak of coronavirus at the jail.
More cases of coronavirus at the Mendocino County Jail. After more testing a total of 18 inmates and 10 staff members have tested positive at the Main Adult Detention Facility, or County Jail. The cases started to show up November 30th. The Sheriff’s Office reports no deaths or hospitalizations and currently there are 11 infected inmates and two staffers. The Sheriff’s Office reports the health and safety of the inmates and staff are a top priority and they’re doing everything to prevent anymore cases. They’re working with the Public Health Dept. to make sure their COVID protocol is working or to make improvements. Some of the protocols include mandatory mask-wearing by inmates and staff, surveillance testing, quarantine procedures, air filtration, surface disinfection, reduced interaction between inmates, significantly reduced visitation and only booking people who’ve been arrested for serious, violent, or sexual crimes.
State Senator Mike McGuire has reintroduced a bill which he says will protect journalists who go to report on events protected by the First Amendment. There were more reported attacks on reporters or other members of the press in 2020, especially during the summertime anti-racism protests. Some of those reports include reporters being hit by rubber bullets, hit with batons, sprayed with tear gas, and detained as they worked to document the current events. McGuire says his bill, SB 98 will ensure journalists are protected when they’re at demonstrations, marches, protests, and rallies; and that it will stop police officers from obstructing, detaining, assaulting, or otherwise preventing the press from fulfilling their constitutional mandate in reporting on these events.
A teenager from Guerneville has been killed in a crash in Santa Rosa. The 14 year old died after the hit and run Monday where she was riding in a friend’s car, a 16 year old, who was later arrested on suspicion of DUI. The female passenger had no apparent injuries after the crash and no signs of trauma and police say they’re looking into what happened before the crash, which was minor. The 14 year old appeared to be sleeping at the time of the incident and was found to be unconscious and not breathing. An ambulance was called and CPR at the scene was unsuccessful. The 16 year old driver was taken to a hospital to be treated for intoxication, arrested, then released to her parents. Police say there will be a toxicology and autopsy to help them figure out the 14 year old’s cause of death.
An extension for the regions of the state in strict stay at home orders due to continued rising cases and hospitalizations. Yesterday the Governor lengthened the stay home order in both Southern California and the San Joaquin Valley. The California’s health and human services secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly says this time, there’s no three week time limit, there’s no date certain at all for when the restrictions might be relaxed. Ghaly said if was for the time being and relaxed rules depend on ICU bed projecting four weeks into the future. This week we saw record breaking days of new coronavirus infections in a single day, on Monday, which did include a couple of weekend days, we hit almost 67,000 new cases.
Trials in Lake County Superior Court are on hold due to increasing COVID19 cases across the state and locally. The California Supreme Court chief justice approved the emergency order after a request for emergency relief regarding court operations during a state of emergency. So no criminal trials for no more than 30 days, if the deadline to try the case was supposed to expire today. That deadline’s been extended to Jan. 28th instead. This is the fifth time the state approved the order for Lake County Superior Court due to the pandemic. Since the last request two employees of the court tested positive for COVID19. Lake Co News reports the order currently only affects two defendants, each of whom has not waived their right to a trial within the time frames set out by law.
The Lake County Hunger Task Force is no more. Lake Co News reports a lack of volunteers appears to be the reason for the end. The task force came to be 20 years ago next month. It was started after a hunger study of Lake and Mendocino counties. 45 people came to their first meeting which ended up going on every month over the years. But the news site reports less and less people were attending. They started a food drive to distribute items to food banks around the lake, and over the last two years they took part in the nationwide Make A Difference Day. They also had their own garden and ran a backpack program for local kids. They say they’ll distribute what’s left of their money to 14 other nonprofits to be used for food only.
A man from Ukiah’s arrested for having child pornography. The Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office reports contacting 37 year old Jose Enevi Zarza-Quintero Dec. 23rd. He had an active arrest warrant for possession of child pornography and was arrested without incident and held on $20,000 bail.
A man from Upper Lake accused of bludgeoning his partner to death with a rock in court to try to change his court appointed lawyer. The court said yes to Willy Tujays Timmons request so the court appointed attorney was relieved of her duty. Another lawyer was appointed and now there’s a new court date to reset the date of the jury trial, but not until February. Timmons is charged with not only murder, but for inflicting corporal injury with a prior conviction within seven years, causing permanent disability, and torture among more charges for the June 2017 death of the mother of his children, Vanessa Niko. He’s in custody currently and the case was determined not to be a capital punishment case early on.
The vaccine for coronavirus is being administered to seniors in Sonoma County. Almost one year into the pandemic, which has killed over 120 elderly Sonoma County residents. Staff and residents at some skilled nursing facilities have begun to get their vaccinations. The Press Democrat reports almost 70% of those who have died from the virus in the county were in those over 75 years old. There were also two new deaths yesterday. The county has had almost 4,000 new cases the last two weeks, the highest 14-day case rate so far. Other such facilities in the county are lining up for the shots too, both Walgreens and CVS pharmacists are helping to give the shots. The newspaper reports all of the senior care facilities in the county should have their first shots by the end of next month.
In an effort to stop impaired driving, the California Highway Patrol has announced almost $27 million in grant funds from Proposition 64, which legalized recreational Marijuana. Some of the tax money provided for in the original initiative sets money aside for the CHP to administer local grants for education, prevention, and enforcement related to impaired driving. They’ll be distributing grants across the state for law enforcement agencies and toxicology laboratories. There will be a workshop next month for those interested in applying for the grants. You can go to the CHP website and find the info on meeting eligibility requirements. Applications are being accepting thru February 23rd.
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